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Paolo Massobrio

Associate Professor (ING-INF/06)
Office: Via Opera Pia 13, 3rd floor
Phone: +39-010-3532761
E-mail: paolo.massobrio@unige.it
IRIS: https://iris.unige.it/simple-search?query=paolo+massobrio&rpp=10&sort_by=bi_sort_2_sort&order=DESC
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8335-3407

He received the Laurea Degree in Electronics Engineering and the Ph.D. in

My research activities fit into the field of neuroengineering, concerning both experimental and modelling aspects. Within this framework, my research interests are focused on the following three topics:

(i) Computational models of large-scale neuronal networks. I have been working on developing models able to correlate the interplay between the underlying connectivity (topology) and the emergent dynamical states.

(ii) Engineered neuronal networks. The use of MEAs allow to drive the connectivity of neuronal networks and design peculiar configurations where topological features can be defined a priori. In the last years, I made works on patterned neuronal networks, heterogeneous (i.e., cortical-thalamic) interconnected neuronal populations, and three-dimensional cultures.

(iii) Functional connectivity in large-scale neuronal networks. I have been working on the development of statistical algorithms to infer functional connectivity in large-scale neuronal networks. Since functional networks are influenced by the underlying structural connectivity, the possibility to extract functional topological features may give relevant information also on the morphological connections.

During my PhD and the first post-doc, I also worked on electrical stimulation protocols to induce long-term potentiation in cortical networks coupled to MEAs and on bio-electronic models of the neuro-microtransducer interface, by simulating the behavior of passive, FET-based (field effect transistor), and CNT-coated (carbon nanotube) microtransducers.

Micro-electrode arrays, neural interfaces, neuronal dynamics, functional connectivity, engineered networks, modeling and simulations

Computational Neuroscience (MSc, Bioengineering)
Bioelectronics (BSc, Biomedical Engineering)
Computational Neuroengineering (MSc, Computer Science)
Modeling Neuronal Structures (PhD in Bioengineering and Biorobotics)

Neuroengineering